1753 Carte Reduite Du Detroit De Magellan

This elegant map of the Straits of Magellan by Bellin details the Straits to the extent that the area was known at the time. It was based on cartographic reports of exploratory voyages to the region made in 1701 and 1730. The map illustrates in some detail the 350 miles of nearly unnavigable straits located at the very southernmost point of South America, with the area covered reaching from Cap des Vierges in the east to Cap de la Victoire at the west side of the straits. Bellin identifies a number of islands and capes and adds details to Patagonia not seen in earlier maps of the region, which would have been useful for navigation. Rhumb lines radiate from a point in the lower left and one in the upper right. The unusual combination of islands, bays and channels, of high winds and strong currents were a nightmare for navigators and sailors who found it necessary to pass through the area. Many ships and lives have been lost to the Straits. The first known passage through the area by Fer